Summary
mean 16.5 or greater = First
mean 16.0, median 16.5 or greater = First
mean 16.0, median 16.0 = still a chance of a First if they like you
and someone was wrong to complain that the medain dragged them down becasue of a few bad grades. Quite the opposite, the median is less affected
by outliers than the mean. Two bad grades in junior honours drags my mean below 16.5 but the median is still well above the 17 mark, though I suppose it helps that I have JH, SH and a masters year contributing what is now a hell of a lot of modules.
Anyway,
how to calculate a credit weighted mean
(which I'm sure you already know)
multiply each individual grade by the corresponding number of credits and total them up. Divide by the total number of credits.
how to calculate a credit weighted median (wee bit lengthy)
As far as I know all modules are worth credits which are a mulpiple of five so use that. Now write down all your grades but if a module is worth ten credits write down the grade twice and if its worth twenty credits write it down four times and so on.
Now once you have done this for all your modules score off the highest grade at the same time as the lowest grade. Do this until you have either one or two grades left. If you have two take the mean. That is your credit weighted median.
A wee bit of digging in the inbox uncovers the following helpful info.
HONOURS CLASSIFICATION ALGORITHM
In May 2003, Academic Council approved the introduction of a new algorithm to determine Honours classification. The "new" algorithm was not used for determining the classification but was tested in May 2004 along with two other versions. Following a review of the results it has been decided that the University will continue to operate the algorithm that has been used for the past several years with the proviso that discrimination will now be improved by using grades reported to one decimal place at all stages including the final calculation.
The table showing how the algorithm works can be found at the following web link:-
http://www.st-andrews.ac.uk/registry/ac ... sclass/alg
Please note that the pass grade remains at 5.0.
In addition, Academic Council reviewed and approved a set of rules relating to the algorithm. These can be found at the following web link:-
http://www.st-andrews.ac.uk/registry/ac ... lass/class
Please note in particular that in the case of loss of Permission to Proceed (PtP) in a 3000-level, 4000-level or 5000-level module, a grade of "0" will be entered into the calculation even though no credits are obtained for the module with respect to meeting the requirements of the Honours degree programme.
Students are strongly encouraged to read the other rules which will apply.
R A PIPER (Professor)
Vice-Principal (Learning and Teaching)
6 October 2004